Penn State Student Jobs On-Campus: Requirements and Opportunities

Penn State University offers a wide array of part-time job opportunities for students, both on campus and with community partners. These positions cater to diverse skill sets and interests, providing valuable experience and financial support.

Types of Student Employment

Student employment at Penn State can be broadly categorized into two types:

Federal Work-Study: These jobs are available to students who have been granted Federal Work-Study as part of their financial aid package.
Wage Payroll: These jobs do not require Federal Work-Study aid and are available to all students, including international students who qualify.

Eligibility for Federal Work-Study

Incoming first-year students who submit their FAFSA by the University’s recommended deadline and indicate an interest in work-study on their Penn State application for admission will be considered for Federal Work-Study. Penn State does not require a separate application for Federal Work-Study. If offered, work-study will appear in the Student Aid Summary in LionPATH.

Returning students and incoming first-year students not initially offered Federal Work-Study may request consideration by contacting the appropriate office. A valid FAFSA must be on file for consideration. Due to limited funding, not all eligible students will receive an offer of Work-Study. It is also advisable to explore other employment opportunities.

Compensation

Undergraduate work-study students typically earn \$12.00/hour, while graduate work-study students typically earn \$14.00/hour. Some positions may offer a higher wage. Nittany Lions Read/Nittany Lions Count and Community Service work-study students earn \$14.00/hour.

Federal Work-Study earnings are not applied as credit on a student's tuition bill. All wages earned are directly deposited into a checking or savings account every two weeks according to Penn State’s Bi-Weekly Pay Schedule. Wages earned through work-study are reported as "Earned Income" on the FAFSA for the subsequent year and may be deducted as "Title IV exclusions."

Important Considerations

Submitting falsified time sheets is considered fraud against the University and the federal government, and legal action may be taken. The Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General will be notified if a school has credible information that a student may have committed fraud or other criminal misconduct in connection with their application or eligibility for federal student aid.

Work Hour Restrictions

Work-study participants may never work more than 8 hours/day and 20 hours/week when classes are in session. If a student holds more than one work-study position, the sum of all positions may not exceed these limits. During periods of non-enrollment (fall, winter, and spring break) or under special circumstances related to summer employment for CSFWS students, the limits increase to 8 hours/day and 40 hours/week.

Offered Amounts and Planning

Typical Federal Work Study per academic year is \$4000 for undergraduate and graduate students. To ensure optimal use through the semester, students should plan their work schedule before beginning to earn funds.

A simple calculation can help: (hourly salary) x (number of hours worked/week) x (number of weeks worked/semester). If that total is less than or equal to the semester offer, the student is set. If the total is above the semester allotment, the student should reconsider their schedule.

For example, an undergraduate work-study student earning \$12.00/hour, planning to work 15 hours/week for 14 weeks of the semester, would earn \$2520. If their work-study allocation was \$2000/semester, the student would need to adjust their weekly schedule to 12 hours/week to work for 14 weeks as planned.

Increases to Federal Work-Study may be available, depending on available funding, continued eligibility, and remaining federal financial need.

Student Affairs On-Campus Opportunities

Student Affairs offers many opportunities for on-campus student employment. Many offices hire students for part-time wage positions. Two of the largest student employers are Campus Recreation and the HUB-Robeson Center. Smaller opportunities also exist, providing experience in areas such as marketing, photography, graphic design, event planning, and program development.

Read also: Penn State Admission: Average ACT

Some offices offer positions for graduate students and postdocs. Graduate students interested in Student Affairs fields or counseling should reach out to these offices for more information.

The HUB-Robeson Center offers various openings each semester. Working alongside talented staff provides professional experience that students can add to their resumes.

Specific On-Campus Employment Areas

Opportunities exist in various areas, including:

HUB-Robeson Center
Campus Recreation
Residence Life
Student Orientation
Career Services
Paul Robeson Cultural Center
Emergency Medical Program
Center for Arts and Crafts
Student Engagement Network
Communications and Marketing

Associated Student Activities (ASA)

Associated Student Activities (ASA) is the financial office for the more than 1000 recognized student organizations at University Park. ASA's primary functions are those of a banker, accountant, paymaster, and advisor on fiscal matters. ASA encourages all treasurers and other officers to bring their questions to the staff.

Center for Arts & Crafts

The Center for Arts & Crafts offers a wide variety of non-credit adult art classes, such as drawing, painting, pottery, and stained glass, throughout the year, as well as children's art camps during the summer. The Ceramics Studio offers classes in wheel-thrown pottery and hand-building techniques. Ceramics Studio memberships are available during fall and spring semesters.

Job duties in the Ceramics Studio may include answering phones, greeting customers, disseminating information, assisting with advertising, taking class registrations, and recording payments. Other responsibilities include preparing, maintaining, and organizing supplies and equipment, and caring for facilities. A courteous demeanor, willingness to go the extra mile, and the ability to follow through with tasks are vital. Knowledge of office procedures and artistic ability or appreciation is desirable. Specific tasks within the Ceramics Studio may include general glaze maintenance, unloading/loading kilns, wedging clay, and assisting with daily operations, as well as learning opening and closing procedures.

Schwab Auditorium

The Charles S. Schwab Auditorium is an 894-seat theater that presents music, drama, dance, and lecture programs in a concert hall setting. Built in the Beaux Arts style, the Auditorium features a 40' wide by 18' deep stage, a concert sound system, theatrical lighting, and video projection capabilities.

Event Staff positions at Schwab Auditorium involve greeting and assisting audience members at all events and enforcing event policies, while providing a welcoming atmosphere for patrons. Previous stage crew experience is helpful but not required. Scheduling for work is dependent on student availability and event needs. Duties may also include answering phones and greeting customers, taking messages, and referring inquiries as appropriate. Some areas may have a high volume of traffic at peak times.

Finding a Job on Campus

Many employment opportunities offer part-time, hourly positions in and around the University. Students can start their search online and contact the hiring area for more information. An offer of Federal Work-Study is not required to apply for the wage payroll positions listed.

Community Non-Profit Organizations

Community partners like the Nittany Lions Read/Nittany Lions Count Program and The Community Service Federal Work-Study Program employ students as part-time hourly employees.

Part-Time Employee Policies

Penn State has specific policies in place regarding part-time employment, outlining appointment types and benefits. Key aspects of these policies include:

Part-Time Employee Definition: Part-time employees are classified as either part-time academic or part-time non-academic. Employees must obtain the approval of their manager(s) before accepting multiple appointments within the University during the same time-period. All part-time positions must comply with the University’s collective bargaining agreements. Unless otherwise indicated in applicable University policy, all part-time appointments are considered to be at will.

Part-Time Academic: Employees classified as part-time academic are categorized as either teaching (adjunct) or non-teaching. Teaching (adjunct) appointments are classified as exempt or non-exempt under FLSA (the Fair Labor Standards Act). Employees may teach a maximum of nine (9) credits per academic semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer) for each Affordable Care Act (ACA) standard measurement period (October through September). Employees that teach the maximum nine (9) credits per semester shall not have any other part-time appointments at Penn State. Non-teaching part-time academic employees may be either exempt or non-exempt under FLSA. Exempt non-teaching part-time academic employees may work up to 60% full-time equivalency (FTE). Non-exempt part-time academic employees may work up to twenty-four (24) hours per week, year-round, and they may also work forty (40) hours per week for sixteen (16) consecutive weeks in each Affordable Care Act (ACA) standard measurement period (October through September).

Part-Time Non-Academic: Employees in the part-time non-academic employee type are classified as exempt or non-exempt under FLSA (the Fair Labor Standards Act), and should be classified in the appropriate non-academic job profile. For a position to be classified as a exempt part-time non-academic position, it must be approved by Compensation and Classification and may work up to 60% full-time equivalency (FTE) across all appointments. Non-exempt part-time non-academic employees may work up to twenty-four (24) hours per week in all Penn State appointments combined during each Affordable Care Act (ACA) standard measurement period (October through September). One period of full-time equivalent employment (40 hours per week) is permissible for up to sixteen (16) consecutive weeks during each Affordable Care Act (ACA) standard measurement period. If ongoing staffing needs cannot be met while complying with the provisions for part-time schedules and FTE, the work should be evaluated in order to determine whether a full-time position is needed. Part-time employees performing work covered under a collective bargaining agreement, such as technical service work, must comply with the requirements under the collective bargaining agreements.

Full-Time Employees Taking on Additional Part-Time Appointments: Full-time Exempt employees may only work a maximum of fifteen (15) hours per week total in separate part-time Non-Exempt appointments. Full-time Exempt employees may take on additional exempt appointments in accordance with HR90 - Extra Compensation for Exempt Staff Employees. Full-time Exempt employees must obtain the approval of their manager(s) prior to taking on additional part-time appointments. Full-time Non-Exempt employees can take on additional Non-Exempt part-time appointments, though they must be paid overtime for all hours worked over forty (40), across all appointments. Full-Time Non-Exempt employees must obtain the approval of their manager(s) prior to taking on additional part-time appointments. Full-time Non-Exempt employees are not permitted to take on part-time Exempt appointments. Employees that are covered under a collective bargaining agreement are not eligible for additional appointments.

Full-Time Penn State Students Working Part-Time Appointments: Full-Time Penn State students may work up to 40 hours/week in Part-Time Penn State employment, although some work units or programs may have restrictions on the total number of hours that may be worked per week.

Part-Time Non-Exempt Employee Shift Premium: Shift premium will apply to students in part-time non-exempt jobs, as well as Federal Work Study Students for all continuous hours worked on the shift. The shift premium will be added to the base rate.

Part-Time Employee Benefits: Part-time employees may be eligible for certain benefits, and/or are covered by federal, state, and local law, including:

Workers' Compensation Insurance
Unemployment Compensation Insurance

Students should check individual programs and policies for specific eligibility information.

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